Multipurpose folding easel



Sept. 16, 1 958 A. G. wElR 2,851,819

MULTIPURPOSE FOLDING EASEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 50. 1956 lgmi: 1

6*' LW a INVENTOR.

ATTD RN EYS Sept. 16, 1958 A. G. wElR 2,851,819

' MULTIPURPOSE FOLDING EASEL y Filed Nov; v30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2i /a6 F. if; .f

I N VEN TOR.

ATTE! RN EYE Um States Patent O f MULTIPURPOSE FOLDING EASEL Archie G. Weir, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,470

1 Claim. (Cl. 45-129) This invention relates to a folding easel or table.

This invention is an improvement over the collapsible drawing board easel shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,730,835.

The object of the invention is to provide an easel which can be adjusted as desired, and whereby the easel can be readily folded when it is not being used so that the easel will occupy a minimum amount of space for storage or shipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible easel or table which is constructed so that the effective height thereof can be adjusted as desired, there being a means provided for maintaining the parts of the easel immobile in their adjusted positions, and whereby the easel or table can be used for a plurality of different uses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding easel which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be aparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the folding easel, constructed according to the present invention, and showing the easel in open position.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the easel shown in Figure 1, and showing the easel open.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the easel showing the device in folded position as when it is not being used.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the easel showing the easel in open position.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing the easel in folded position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure l.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a spacer washer.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the modified easel showing the easel in open position.

Figure 10 is an end elevational view of the easel of Figure 9 showing the easel in open position.

Figure l1 is an end elevational view of the easel shown in Figure 9, and showing the easel in folded position.

Figure l2 is a side elevational view of the easel of Figure 9 in folded position.

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of a still further modified easel, showing the easel in open position.

Figure 14 is an end elevational view of the easel in Figure 13 showing the easel in open position.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the easel of Figure 13 in open position.

Figure 16 is an end elevational view ofthe easel shown in Figure 13 in folded position.

Patented Sept. 16, 1958 Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of Figure 14.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 through 8 of the drawings, there is shown an easel which includes a rst pair of legs 10 which are pivotally connected to a second pair of legs 11 through the medium of pivot pins 12, and the folding easel shown in Figures 1 through 8 is indicated generally by the numeral 13. The easel 13 further includes a pair of spaced parallel arms 14 and a second pair of spaced parallel arms 15. The first pair of arms 14 are adjustably connected to the upper ends of the first legs 10, while the second pair of arms 15 are adjustably connected to the second legs 11. In Figure 7 there is shown a detail of the connection between the arms and legs, and it will be seen that each of the arms 14 and 15 is provided with an elongated slot 16. Extending inwardly from each of the legs 11) and 11 is a tongue 17 which slidably engages in a groove 18 which is formed in each arm 14 and 15 whereby these parts will be maintained in their proper aligned position as they are adjusted. A suitable securing element such as a bolt 19 extends through the upper end of each of the legs, and the bolts 19 extend through slots 16 in the arms 14 and 15, there being wing nuts 20 arranged in threaded engagement with the bolts 19. Thus, by loosening the wing nuts 20, the position of the arms 14 with respect to the legs 10 or the position of the arms 15 with respect to the legs 11 can be adjusted as desired so that the effective height of the easel or table can be varied or regulated as desired. After the arms have been moved to their adjusted position, the wing nuts 20 are tightened so as to maintain the parts immobile in their adjusted positions. The easel 13 further includes a pair of spacel parallel bars 21 which each have an end pivotally connected to the upper end of the arms 14 by means of a pivot pin or rod 22. Extending between the other ends of the bars 21 and secured to the upper surfaces thereof in any suitable manner, is a cross piece 23, Figure 6. Depending from the cross piece 23 is a flange 24 which coacts with the cross piece 23 to define therebetween a space or channel 25. The stop member or keper 26 extends between the pair of arms 15 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, and the keeper 26 is provided with a tapered or pointed lip 27 which is adapted to engage the space 25 whereby the bars 21 will be maintained in a substantially horizontal position. Thus, with the bars 21 in the position shown in Figure l, for example, a `suitable drawing board or the like can be supported thereon and the construction shown in Figure 6 insures that the bars 21 will be maintained at the desired elevation or level. Spacer members 28, Figure 8, are adapted to be mounted on pivot rod 22 adjacent the ends thereof so as to main-v tain the bars and arms in their proper spaced apart relation.

Referring to Figures 9 through 12 of the drawings, there is shown a modified folding easel or table which is indicated generally by the numeral 29. In the easel 29 shown in Figures 9 through 12, there is provided a first pair of legs 30 which are pivotally connected to a second pair of legs 31 by means of pivot pins 32. A brace 33 extends between the legs 30 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner, and a brace 34 extends between the lower ends of the pair of legs 31'. The easel 13, shown in Figures 1 through 8 is also provided with braces 33 and 34. A pair of bars 35 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the legs 30 by means of a pivot pin 36,

and secured to the other ends of the bars 35 is a cross piece such as the previously described cross piece 23. The cross piece 23 has a flange 24 depending therefrom, and the space between the flange 24 and the cross piece 23 is adapted to be engaged by the tapered lip 27 of the keeper 26, the keeper 26, in Figures 9 through 12 being secured between the upper ends of the legs 31.

Referring to Figures 13 through 17 of the drawings, there is shown a still further modified easel or folding table which is indicated generally lby the numeral 37. The easel 37 includes first legs 38 which are pivotally connected to second legs 39 by means of pivot pins 40. The brace 33 extends between the pair of legs 38, and a brace 34 extends between the lower ends of the legs 39. A pair of bars 41 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the legs 38 by means of a pivot rod 42, and a table top 43 extends across the pair of bars 41 and is permanently secured thereto. A flange 44 depends from an end of the table top 43, and the flange 44 is provided with a cutout 45, Figure 17, and this cutout defines a shoulder or space which is adapted to be engaged by the pointed or tapered end 47 of a keeper 46, and the keeper 46 extends between the pair of legs 39 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. A support piece 48 may be arranged beneath the keeper 46 for helping to steady the keeper.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a folding easel or table which is an improvement over the folding easel shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,730,835. In Figures 1 through 8 there is illustrated one form of the easel which is indicated generally by the numeral 13, and in Figures 1 through 8 the easel 13 includes the legs 10 which are pivotally connected to the legs 11 by means of the pivot pins 12. The legs have the inwardly extending tongue 17 which slidably engage the grooves 18 in the arms 14 and 15 as shown in Figure 7. Furthermore, the arms are provided with elongated slots 16 through which extend the bolts 19 so that by loosening the nuts 20, the arms 14 and 15 can be adjusted relative to the legs whereby the effective height of the bars 21 can be varied as desired and then the nuts 20 are tightened on the bolts 19. Extending between the bars 21 is a cross piece 23 which co-acts with the flange 24 to dene the space 25 so that when the easel is being used, the tapered end 27 of the keeper 26 will project into the space 25 to maintain the bars 21 in a slightly inclined or substantially horizontal position. Thus, the bars 21 can be used to support a drawing board or any other object which requires support. In Figure 1 and Figure 2, the easel is shown in open position ready to be used and similarly in Figure 4 the easel is shown in open position. in Figure 3 and in Figure 5 the easel is shown in folded position so that it will Ibe seen that the easel occupies a minimum amount of space for storage or shipment when the device is not being used. The spacers 28 are mounted on the pin or rod 22 so that the arms and bars are maintained in their proper spaced apart relationship as for example, as shown in Figure 4.

ln Figures 9 through l2 there is shown a modified easel which is indicated generally by the numeral 29, and the easel 29 includes the legs 30 and 31 which are pivotally connected together by means of the pivot pins 32. The bars 35 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the legs 30 by means of a pivot pin 36, and the previously described cross piece 23 and flange 24 are adapted to be engaged by the keeper 26 so as to maintain the bars 35 in a substantially horizontal position. The bars can be used fo-i` supporting a drawing board, table top or any other article. In Figures 9 and 10 the easel 29 is shown in open position, while in Figures l1 and 12 the easel is shown in closed position and when the easel is to be folded, the keeper 26 can be readily disengaged from the space 25 which is defined between the cross piece 23 and flange 24.

Referring to Figures 13 through 17 of the drawings, there is shown a further modified easel which is indicated generally by the numeral 37, and the easel 37 includes a table top 43 which is permanently secured to the pair of bars 41. The table top 43 is adapted to be maintained in. a substantially horizontal position by means of the keeper 46 which has its tapered end 47 projecting into the cutout 45 which is formed in the flange 44. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate the easel 37 in open position ready to be used, while Figures l5 and 16 show the easel in folded position as when the device is not being used.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided an easel which is self supporting and which is light in weight and wherein the easel can be folded so that it occupies a small amount of space when it is not being used whereby it can be readily carried or stored. The easel is inexpensive to make, sturdily constructed, and the device can be used by different persons such as engineers, draftsrnen, students or the like. The parts can be made of any suitable material and in any desired shape or size.

The easel shown in Figures 1 through 8 can be adjusted so that the top thereof is level with a desk or the like and this easel can also be lowered so that it can Ibe used as a typewriter table and the device can be adjusted to a variety of different angles, as for example, the slope can be adjusted so as to meet the requirements of a draftsman. The easel shown in Figures 9 through 12 is of fixed height and the easel can be used in any suitable location such as a factory, or it can be used as a drawing board, writing table or the like, the easel is adapted to be quickly and easily set up or taken down. Furthermore, the

easel can be used with sketching, or when making manufacturing surveys, time studies or it can be used as a temporary desk for charity drives, polls, use in disaster areas, or in connection with certain mobile equipment. The easel shown in Figures 13 through 17 may be made in smaller sizes than the previous easels and the easel 37 has the fixed top 43. The easel 37 can be used by children in kindergarten or of kindergarten age, and the keeper l46 can be arranged as shown in Figure 17, or else the keeper 46 can be inserted in the space between the bars 41 and the flange 44 so that two different adjustments are possible with the construction shown in Figure 17. Thus, the easel 37 can be used to provide a level table top for use as a lunch table or else a slight slope can be provided. The easel 37 can be used in a kindergarten class and when the devices are not being used, the room can easily be cleared by folding the easels and then stacking the easels in a small space so that the room can be used as a playroom. The easels can be made of wood, or interlocking metal strips, which may be beaded for added strength and if desired, metal tubing can be used or telescoping metal tubing can be used.

The easel shown in Figures 9 through 12 can be constructed so that the Ibars 35 can only be supported in one position whereas the other easels are capable of several different adjusted positions. The easel 37 can be made small enough so that a child can set on a small chair and use the table top 43 comfortably.

I claim:

In a folding support, pairs of first and second legs arranged in crisscross relation with respect to each other and pivotally connected together, said first legs being longer than said second legs, first and second arms adjustably connected to said first and second legs, said arms being each provided with a longitudinally extending slot, a securing element extending through the upper end of each of said legs, and through the slots in said arms, tongues extending inwardly from said legs, there being grooves in said arms for receiving said tongues, a horizontally disposed brace extending between the lower ends of said second legs and secured thereto, a brace extending between said first legs and secured thereto, a pair of spaced parallel bars each having one end hingedly connected to the upper ends of said rst arms, a cross piece extending across the other ends of said bars and secured to the upper surfaces thereof, a flange depending from said cross piece and extending `between said bars and said flange coacting with said cross piece to define a channel,

5 6 and a keeper extending between said pair of second arms 874,052 Cantwell Dec. 17, 1907 and provided with a tapered lip for engagement with said 1,286,018 Jones Nov. 26, 1918 channel. 1,412,314 Pandolfo Apr. 11, 1922 1,743,972 Krummes Ian. 14, 1930 References Cited in the le of this patent 5 1,897,321 Mitchell et a1 Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTS 687,772 Norrhrup Dec; 3, 1901 

